Disturbing moment police find a drugged-up driver passed out behind the wheel on one of Australia's busiest highways with the vehicle still running - before he lashes out at officers
- Driver found passed out on the M1 between the Gold Coast and Brisbane
- Brendon Ellis, 35, was 'off his face' on drugs according to a magistrate
- Police body-cam footage shows him slumped at the wheel of his red Mazda
- Passenger was also passed out with feet up on the dashboard
- Officers needed two-sets of cuffs to restrain Mr Ellis who lashed out spitting
A drug-fueled driver who passed out at the wheel of his red Mazda on a busy highway lashed out at police when he was woken.
Brendon Ellis, 35, was found slumped in the driver's seat on the M1 between the Gold Coast and Brisbane in Queensland at 7.30am on Christmas morning, 2020.
Disturbing body-cam footage shows Ellis sleeping while pulled over and blocking a lane with the motor running at Oxenford near the Dreamworld and Movie World theme parks.
Asleep in the passenger seat is another man also out cold with his feet on the dashboard.
Witnesses reported seeing the red Mazda driving erratically at speeds up to 140km per hour down the busy motorway before suddenly grinding to a halt on the side of the road.
Brendon Ellis (pictured), 35, was found on the side of the M1 motorway on the Gold Coast after witnesses saw him driving erratically
Confronting footage shows police removing the keys before trying to awaken the driver who was disorientated and tried to start the vehicle.
'Hey mate? Hey mate, hello? 'You're parked on the bloody motorway. No, you can't drive,' the officer is heard saying.
As police try to remove Ellis from the car he lashes out, spitting at officers while dipping in out in a drug fueled rage while his passenger remains asleep.
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It took three officers to restrain Ellis who resisted arrest prompting police to draw tasers yelling, 'Hands up. Taser taser. Do as you're told! Get on the ground, mate!'.
Ellis required two sets of handcuffs to be detained.
The passenger easily submitted to authorities before exiting the vehicle and lying on the bitumen cars roaring past only metres away.
Ellis was on parole at the time of the offence and pleaded guilty to seven charges in relation to his doped out highway joy-ride.
Police (pictured left) were spat on and attacked by Ellis (right) as they tried to arrest him
The court heard Ellis was under the influence of a cocktail of drugs with the magistrate describing his state as 'off his face'.
Ellis was sentenced to 15 months and is currently behind bars.
His lawyer Farshad Sarabi said outside court: 'the struggle with police was aggressive. In the end he came worse for wear'.
'He will be back in the community in September however he will have very strict conditions on him'.
Ellis (pictured) was described by a magistrate as being 'off-his-face'
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